Incumbent operators Airtel, Vodafone and Idea dominate in Maharashtra. So the recent hike will have a huge impact on those loyal customers who use these networks.

The three networks have a dominant control over the market in the region and cheaper operators like Aircel and Reliance do not provide 3G services. Hence these frequent data tariff hikes are bleeding the customers’ pockets.

In the recent hike, Airtel has increased cost for 3G packs, and benefits in 2G packs have been drastically reduced. Airtel has also introduced new packs with higher denominations.

Earlier, 1 GB 3G cost Rs 251 but now customers have to recharge with Rs 298 to get the same benefits. Other 2 GB and 3 GB packs will cost more. They have also removed some cheaper 2G Data packs and now 1 GB 2G will cost Rs 199.

Airtel Data Packs with details after revision :

Price

Old Benefits

New Benefits

Rs 18

90 MB 2G Data for 2 Days

Pack Withdrawn

Rs 19

New Launched

60 MB 2G Data for 2 Days

Rs 23

New Launched

70 MB 2G Data for 2 Days

Rs 25

100 MB 3G Data for 3 Days

60 MB 3G Data for 3 Days

Rs 41

200 MB 2G WhatsApp data for 30 Days

Pack Withdrawn

Rs 45

New Launched

180 MB 2G WhatsApp data for 28 Days

Rs 48

175 MB 3G Data for 7 Days

Pack Withdrawn

Rs 54

New Launched

160 MB 3G Data for 5 Days

Rs 98

500 MB 2G Data for 14 Days

400 MB 2G Data for 14 Days

Rs 99

300 MB 3G Data for 14 Days

Pack Withdrawn

Rs 101

New Launched

250 MB 3G Data for 14 Days

Rs 124

625 MB 2G Data for 18 Days

Pack Withdrawn

Rs 125

New Launched

500 MB 2G Data for 16 Days

Rs 153

500 MB 3G Data for 21 Days

615 MB 2G Data for 19 Days

Rs 154

New Launched

470 MB 3G Data for 14 Days

Rs 198

New Launched

600 MB 3G Data for 21 Days

Rs 199

600 MB 3G Data for 28 Days

1 GB 2G Data for 28 Days

Rs 247

New Launched

1.25 GB 2G +Unlimited at 2G speed

Rs 252

3 GB 2G +Unlimited at 2G speed

765 MB 3G Data for 21 Days

Rs 251

1 GB 3G Data for 28 Days

Pack Withdrawn

Rs 298

New Launched

1 GB 3G Data for 28 Days

Rs 351

1.5 GB 3G Data for 28 Days

Pack Withdrawn

Rs 347

New Launched

1.25 GB 3G Data for 28 Days

Rs 455

2 GB 3G Data for 28 Days

Pack Withdrawn

Rs 498

New Launched

2 GB 3G Data for 28 Days

Rs 655

3 GB 3G Data for 28 Days

2.5 GB 3G Data for 28 Days

Rs 698

New Launched

3 GB 3G Data for 28 Days

Rs 749

4 GB 3G then Unlimited for 28 Days

Pack Withdrawn

Rs 798

New Launched

4 GB 3G then Unlimited for 28 Days

Airtel has also changed other data packs for heavy users and some packs now have fewer benefits. So do check with Customer care before recharge.

On the other hand, Idea Cellular has hiked upto 45 percent in data tariffs. Idea 3G and 2G users will now have to pay more.

Idea users will have to pay Rs 299 instead of Rs 249 for 1 GB 3G recharge. They have also reduced other data packs benefits and new packs have been introduced at higher prices. Let’s take a look at recent pack details below.

Idea data packs after revision :

Price

Old Benefits

New Benefits

2G Packs :

Rs 52

260 MB 2G Data for 7 Days

210 MB 2G Data for 6 Days

Rs 98

475 MB 2G Data for 14 Days

400 MB 2G Data for 12 Days

Rs 125

New Launched

512 MB 2G Data for 14 Days

Rs 151

750 MB 2G Data for 21 Days

600 MB 2G Data for 18 Days

Rs 179

New Launched

700 MB 2G Data for 21 Days

Rs 198

1.25 GB 2G Data for 28 Days

1 GB 2G Data for 28 Days

Rs 248

New Launched

1.25 GB 2G Data for 28 Days

3G Packs :

Rs 169

650 MB 3G Data for 15 Days

512 MB 3G Data for 14 Days

Rs 249

1 GB 3G Data for 28 Days

750 MB 3G Data for 28 Days

Rs 299

New Launched

1 GB 3G Data for 28 Days

Rs 449

2 GB 3G Data for 28 Days

1.75 GB 3G Data for 28 Days

Rs 497

New Launched

2 GB 3G Data for 28 Days

Rs 598

3 GB 3G Data for 28 Days

2.5 GB 3G Data for 28 Days

Rs 698

New Launched

3 GB 3G UL Data for 28 Days

Rs 751

4 GB 3G UL Data for 28 Days

3.25 GB 3G UL Data for 28 Days

Rs 851

6 GB 3G UL Data for 28 Days

3.75 GB 3G UL Data for 28 Days

Rs 899

New Launched

4 GB 3G UL Data for 28 Days

Rs 951

7 GB 3G UL Data for 28 Days

4.25 GB 3G UL Data for 28 Days

Rs 1099

New Launched

5 GB 3G UL Data for 28 Days

Idea has also changed other data packs for heavy users and some packs with less benefits. So do check with Customer care before recharge.

*Information taken from companies’ websites.

*Do check with Care Executive before opting for any plan or making a recharge.

How do you look at this move from Airtel and Idea do let us know via comments.

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Good point, there should be a visible improvement in data speed too, not just a visible increase in tariffs.

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S Gopal

July 29, 2015 4:09 pm 4:09 PM

It seems that Airtel and Idea are charging high royalty rates for the customers high levels of loyalty. Make hay while the sun shines, but, it if they continue in their part of simply raking in as much money as possible, they ought to watch out for new entrants to the game and resurgence of operators who are presently minnows, the loyal customers will ditch them.